Complete Guide to Japan's Childcare System for Foreigners

⚡ 30-second answer: Licensed Daycare (hoikuen) ¥0-¥70,000/month (income-scaled, free from age 3), certified/unlicensed ¥50,000-¥150,000/month. Foreigners with resident registration can apply — selection uses a "childcare necessity" points system. Waitlists concentrate on ages 1-2 in urban areas, with enrollment decisions mostly in Nov-Dec of the prior year.

Quick reference	Value
Licensed ages 0-2	¥0-¥70,000/month
Licensed ages 3-5	Free in principle
Certified daycare (Tokyo)	¥50,000-¥80,000/month
Unlicensed (incl. international)	¥80,000-¥300,000/month
Babysitter	¥1,500-¥3,000/hour
Last verified	June 2026

30-Second Answer

Japan's childcare system has 5 streams: licensed daycare (hoikuen), certified daycare (Tokyo's own standard), unlicensed facilities, company-sponsored, and kindergarten (age 3+). Licensed daycares are municipal-approved with income-scaled fees (Tokyo 23 wards: ¥0-¥70,000 for ages 0-2; free for ages 3-5). Certified is Tokyo's own at ¥50,000-¥80,000/month; unlicensed runs ¥80,000-¥300,000 (international ¥150,000-¥350,000). Foreigners with resident registration can apply with no discrimination across work, spouse, or PR visas. But urban ages 1-2 are highly competitive, with selection using a 40-200 point "childcare necessity" score. Standard threshold: dual-income full-time, both parents 1+ year of employment. Free pre-school education (since 2019) makes ages 3-5 free, but meals, materials, and event fees (¥5,000-¥15,000/month) remain out of pocket.

Main Facility Types Top 12

Cost Breakdown

Typical childcare-related costs:

• Licensed (ages 0-2): ¥0-¥70,000/month (income-scaled)
• Licensed (ages 3-5): ¥0 in principle (free)
• Meals (ages 3-5): ¥4,500-¥7,500/month
• Extended hours: ¥3,000-¥10,000/month
• Materials / events: ¥1,000-¥5,000/month
• Enrollment fee (unlicensed/private): ¥30,000-¥300,000
• Certified daycare: ¥50,000-¥80,000/month
• Unlicensed daycare: ¥80,000-¥150,000/month
• International tuition: ¥150,000-¥350,000/month
• Babysitter: ¥1,500-¥3,000/hour
• Sick-child care: ¥2,000-¥3,500/day
• Temporary care: ¥2,000-¥4,000/day
• Free pre-school subsidy (unlicensed): up to ¥37,000/month
• Child allowance: ¥10,000-¥15,000/month

Typical range: ¥40,000-¥80,000/month for licensed dual-income; ¥150,000-¥250,000 for unlicensed + babysitter combo.

Support for Tourists and Foreigners

English-speaking windows: "Multicultural Childcare Sections" in foreigner-heavy wards (Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku), Tokyo's English childcare guide site, Tokyo English Life Line. Documents are Japanese in principle, with more wards adding English application forms. For payments, sending remittances via Wise/Revolut into JPY and then bank-transferring to daycare keeps FX cost at 0.3-0.6%. International and preschool fees over ¥150,000/month mean budgeting ¥2-4M/year. Standard documentation: both parents' employment proof, residence card, residence record, health insurance card, prior-year withholding statement (foreign salary needs English + translation). Single-parent, disability, and sibling-at-same-school bonuses are significant — sessions with counselors help maximize your point total.

Application Flow

• STEP 1: Residence record, residence card, health insurance ready
• STEP 2: Apply for info session/tour via ward childcare desk
• STEP 3: Tour 5-10 candidate facilities (Sept-Oct prior year)
• STEP 4: Submit application + docs (Nov-Dec)
• STEP 5: Point calculation (childcare necessity)
• STEP 6: First selection results (Jan-Feb)
• STEP 7: Second round / additional intake (Feb-Mar)
• STEP 8: Offer + interview + health check
• STEP 9: Enrollment prep (supplies, health check)
• STEP 10: Start (April 1)

Mid-year enrollment depends on openings — urban areas realistically need April start.

Payment Methods

• Licensed daycare: Auto-debit standard
• Unlicensed daycare: Bank transfer / auto-debit / credit card
• Enrollment fee: Bank transfer
• Extended hours: Monthly auto-debit
• Materials: Cash collection or transfer
• Overseas transfer: Wise/Revolut to JPY then transfer
• Credit cards: International and preschools accept
• Company-sponsored: Payroll deduction available
• Child allowance: Transferred to designated account

Example: ¥250,000 international tuition from USD via Wise — ~0.4-0.7% fee.

Watch Out For

• Points system: Dual-income full-time is the threshold
• Waitlists: Urban ages 1-2 highly competitive
• Not in free coverage: Meals and events still cost
• Unlicensed subsidy: Up to ¥37,000/month from ward
• International tuition: High — consider education loans, gift tax
• Language support: Not all facilities offer English — confirm on tour
• Translation needs: Foreign salary proof safer with English + translation
• Moving: Cross-ward relocation requires re-application

5 Common Mistakes

1. No tour: Skip pre-checking environment, language, meals
2. Late paperwork: Missing Nov-Dec deadline pushes April back hard
3. Single-income application: Lower points, licensed entry tough
4. International only: Licensed + English afterschool combo cuts costs
5. Misreading "free": Meals/materials still cost ¥5,000-¥15,000/month

Pre-Departure Checklist

• Residence record, residence card, health insurance
• Confirm ward childcare office has foreigner support
• Candidate list (5 licensed / 2 certified / 2 unlicensed)
• Employment, income, prior-year withholding statements
• English + translation for foreign salary proof
• Submit application by November
• Organize bonus factors (siblings, single parent)
• Set up Wise/Revolut for tuition routing
• File child allowance application
• Backup plan for sick-child / temporary care

FAQ

Q1: Can foreigners apply to licensed daycare? A: Yes — with resident registration, the same criteria as Japanese citizens.

Q2: Licensed daycare fees? A: Ages 0-2 income-scaled at ¥0-¥70,000/month; ages 3-5 are free in principle.

Q3: Licensed vs unlicensed? A: Licensed is municipal, lower cost, points-based; unlicensed is direct contract, usually ¥80,000+/month.

Q4: International school tuition? A: ¥150,000-¥350,000/month, ¥2-4M/year typical.

Q5: Can you enroll outside April? A: Mid-year openings only; urban is tough, rural and unlicensed are flexible.

Editorial info: Yen Finder Editorial / Last verified June 2026.